When Mundelein’s Casey Vyverman is playing in a game, whether the sport is flag football, basketball or softball, her parents, Scott and Tammy, are there to support her.
But Tammy Vyverman can’t see Casey. A former runner at Illinois State, Tammy Vyverman was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when she was 26 years old and eventually lost her eyesight in her late 30s.
“My mom comes to every game and never misses anything,” Casey Vyverman said. “She sits with my dad, and he talks her through what’s happening in a game. It’s not something we talk about much, just her not knowing what’s going on. It’s normal for us.”
Tammy Vyverman experiences each sport differently. Basketball, the only one of the three played indoors, can be difficult.
“At softball, I rely heavily on the GameChanger app,” she said. “Softball is much easier to follow, given that it moves so slowly. Basketball, on the other hand, can be quite a challenge. The pace of basketball definitely makes it hard to follow while just trying to listen to what’s happening around me. The crowd noise can also drown out what’s happening on the court.”
A Western Michigan basketball commit, Casey Vyverman contributes to that fast pace. The 5-foot-10 senior guard has a nonstop motor on the court.
“What makes Casey such a great player is her heart and hustle,” Mundelein senior guard Madalyn Gardner said. “You can always see in her work ethic that she’s dedicated and passionate about what she does.”
Vyverman averaged 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals for the Mustangs (19-13) last season, when she scored her 1,000th career point. She made 78 3-pointers and shot 93% from the free-throw line.
A fourth-year varsity starter, Vyverman said her mother “inspires” her.
“I learned so much from her,” Vyverman said. “You can’t take any moment for granted.”
Mundelein coach Sarah Teipel said Vyverman inspires her teammates.
“Casey works so hard, and her attitude rubs off on others,” Teipel said. “She’s been a dawg in terms of putting in the hours to achieve her dream of playing Division I basketball. She has been a big inspiration for this team.”
Gardner agreed that Vyverman motivates her teammates.
“She’s an amazing leader on and off the court and is a true role model for the younger girls aspiring to be great in basketball,” Gardner said.
Mundelein senior guard Dulce Hernandez echoed Gardner.
“Casey is so determined no matter the circumstances and plays the game she loves at 110% all the time,” Hernandez said. “She’s not only reliable and a trustworthy teammate, but she has outstanding character.”
Vyverman, who said she has a 4.4 GPA, isn’t slowing down. Mundelein’s season begins Monday with a nonconference home game against Grayslake North.
“I want to put everything I have on the floor,” she said.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
